Ccrn-f 
iSrtt, 

4335 


Duke  University  Libraries 

Report  of  the  p 
Conf  Pam  #335 


liEPOR'^r 


OF    THE 


POSTMASTER  GENEEAL. 


Post-Office  DfiPAfLTMENT.  Richuttoml  May  2,  1864. 

To  THE  President  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  opera- 
tions of  this  Department.  The  time  which  has  elapsed  since  the  date 
of  my  report  of  December  7th,  18G3,  and  s'nce  the  adjournment  of 
Congress,  has  been  so  short  as  to  render  it  unnecessary  to  do  more 
than  present  the  necessary  estimates  for  appropriations  for  its  use,  and 
an  exhibit  of  its  principal  transactions  since  that  time. 

I  submit,  herewith,  duplicate  copies  of  the  detailed  estimatea  of 
appropriations  for  this  Department,  as  follows,  to-wit; 

To  carry  into-  effect  the  provisions   of  the  **  Act  authorizing  the 
appointment  of    an  agent  of  the   Post-Office  Department,  and  such 
clerks  as  may  be  nocessary  to  carry  on  the  postal  service  in  the  States 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river,"  approved  February  16,,  1864  : 
To  the  3Uth  June,  1864,  $21,494  40 

To  carry  on  the  same  service  from  the  1  st  of 

July  to  the  3l8t  of  December,  1864,  17,5(M)  01) 

For  the  pay  of  the  Postmaster  General,head8 
of  bureaus,  clerks,  &c.,  of  the  Post-Office 
Department,  from  the  let  of  July,  to  the 
Slst  of  December,  1864,  and  for  contin- 
gent expenses  for  the  same  period,  $48,339  Oi) 
For  building,  repairing,  and  operating  tele- 
graph lines,  &c.,  from  the  let  of  July  to 
the  3 let  of  December,  1864,                '  78,250  00 

$165,583  40 


I  also  again  submit  a  request  fur  the  appropriation  of  the  sum  of 
two  hundred  and  eeventy-six  thousand,  three  hundred  and  fifty-five  dol- 
lars, and  twenty-three  cents,  ($276,3 .3o  23,)  of  the  revenues  of  the  De- 
partment derived  from  postage  fur  the  year  Avhich  ended  June  3l).  1862.  * 
This  sum  }i;»s  already  been  received,  and  paid  out  by  the  Department ; 
but  its  revenue  accounts  tor  that  year  cannot  be  closed  by  the  Treas- 
urer, unrtl  this  sum  is  appropiiated  by  law.  In  addition  to  the  ordi- 
nary precedeLt,  estimates  of  appropriations  for  amounts  covering  this 
sum,  I  submitted  estimates  for  tbis  appropriation,  on  the  S'st  of  De- 
cember, 1862  ;  again  on  the  12th  of  February,  1^63,  and  also  on  the 
7th  of  December,  1863,  but  it  h;?s  not,  hitherto,  been  made. 

I  iilso  submit,  herewith,  detailed  estimates  for  appropriations, 
amounting,  in  the  aggregate,  to  two  million,  seven  hundred  and 
thirty- seven  thousand,  three  hundred  and  two  dollars  and  thirty* 
cents,  ($2,737,31)2  31),)  of  tlie  revenues  derived  from  postages  for 
tiiv'  year  1863,  to  enable  the  Treasurer  to  close  the  revenue  accounts 
of  the  department  for  that  year.  This  sum  has  also  been  received 
and  paid  out.  This  appropriation  was  asked  for  on  estimates  sub- 
mirted  on  March  I  1th;  on  July  19th  ;  on  September  2alh,  and  De- 
cember 3  let,  1862,  and  on  Februrary  12th,  and  on  December  7th, 
1863.  But  the  appropriation  has  not  been  made.  There  was  an  un- 
expended surplus  of  the  revenues  of  the  Department,for  that  year,  of 
six  hundred  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  seventy-one 
cents,  ($6(10, 0.30  71,)  which,  in  my  report  and  estimates  of  Decem- 
ber 7th,  1803,  1  requested  .>?hould  be  appropriated  in  bulk  for  the  fu- 
ture use  of  the  Department.  It  is  important  that  these  appropria- 
tions should  he  made. 

With  my  report  of  December  7th,  1863,  I  also  submitted  detailed 
estimates  of  appropriations  of  the  revenues  of  the  Department  to  be 
derived  from  postages  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30th,  1865,  of 
sums  amounting,  in  the  aggregate,  to  three  million  three  hundred 
and  thirtv-seven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-three  dollars  and 
one  cent,  ($3, 337, 853  UI-)  This  appropriation  was  not  then  made. 
These  estimates  are  again  herewith  submitted,  and  the  appropriation 
asked  for. 

Since  my  last  report  was  submitted,  the  accounts  of  the  Depart- 
ment lor  the  quarter,  which  ended  the  30th  of-  September  last,  have 
been  audited,  and  the  report  of  the  Auditor  for  that  quarter  shows  a 
continued  improvement  in  its  revenues. 

The  receipts  for  the  quarter  being  $905,739  35 

And  the  expenditures,  546,694  87 


Showing  an  excess  of  receipts  for  the  quarter  of  $359,044  48 

Pursuant  to  the  authority  of  "  An  act  authorizing  the  appointment 
of  an  agent  of  the  Post-Office  Department,  and  such  clerks  as  may  be 
necessary  to  carry  on  the  postal  service  in  the  States  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river,"  approved  February  16th,  1864,  the  President  ap- 
pointc(J.Dr.  James  H.  Starr  to  this  agency  on  the  12th  of  March,  ul- 


timo.     Ilis   commission  and  a  general  outline  of  his  duties  were  for- 
warded to  him  bj  this  Department,  on  the  same  day. 

Three  efficient  and  experienced  clerks  have- been  sent  from  thisde-' 
partment  to  assist  the  agent  in  caiTying  on  the  service  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  A  complete  set  of  the  books,  a  supply  of  blanks, 
stationery,  kc,  to  meet  present  necessities,  and  a  full  supply  of  post- 
age stamps,  were  sent  through  them,  together  with  ample  instructions 
as  to  all  his  duties,  and  copies  of  all  papers  necessary  to  enable  him 
to  adjust  all  outstanding  and  unsettled  accounts  with  postmasters, 
contractors,  &c.  Copies  of  the  instructions  to  the'  agent,  and  of  the 
memorandum  of  the  ai  tides  sent  him  by  the  Department,  are  here- 
with submitted,  marked  A  and  B. 

The  Postmaster  General,  heads  of  bureaus,  and  chief  clerk  of  the 
Post-Office  Department,  and  the  Auditor  of  the  Treasury  for  the  Post- 
Office  Department,  are  authorized  to  send  their  official  correspondence 
through  the  mails,  upon  making  the  prescribed  endorsement  on  lettore 
and  packages  so  sent,  without  the  payment  of  postage.  There  was  an 
omission  to  extend  this  authority  to  the  agent  of  the  Department  ap- 
pointed under  the  act  above  referred  to.  I  respectfully  recommend 
that  the  same  authority,  under  the  same  restrictions,  be  extended  to 
him. 

The  general  condition  of  the  postal  service  east  of  the  Mississippi 
has  been  somewhat  affected  by  the  reduction  of  the  speed  of  the  mail 
trains  on  the  railroads,  and  by  the  frequent  changes  of  their  schedules, 
by  which  the  connections  on  the  several  roads  with  the  lateral  routes 
leading  from  them  are  broken,  and  delays  in  the  transmission  of  the 
mails  produced  It  will  probably  be  impracticable  to  remedy  these 
difficulties  while  the  present  con  lition  of  the  railroads,  and  the  ur- 
gent necessity  for  large  amounts  of  military  transportation,  continue 
With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  H.  REAGAN, 

Pcstmaster  General 


^^ 


141 


*  ESTIMtIlTES, 


ESTIMATES  of  appropriations  required  for    the    Confederate    Stattii 
MiliUtry  Telegraph  Lines  from  Jii^y   \st  to  December  31.y/,  1861. 

Post-Officp  Department,  \ 
Richmond,  April  25,   1864.      \ 

To  His  Excellency,  the  President: 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  ttc 
.<ums  required  for  the  compensation  of  agents,  operators  and  watch- 
men, and  for  the  cost  of  materials,  construction,  repairing  and 
operating  military  telegraph  lines  for  six  months  from  the  first  of 
July  to  the  3Ist  of  December,  186^,  under  the  provisions  of  the  act 
"  relative  to  telegraph  lines  of  the  Confederate  States,"  approved 
May  11th,  1861.  The  actual  expenditures  for  these  purposes  for  the 
?ix  mouths  which  ended  March  Olst,  1864,  were  as  follows  : 

Amount  paid  agents  and  operators,  $I3,li)0  31 

Amount  paid  watchmen,                                                   .  3,125  Ol> 

Amount  paid  office  expenses,  213  37 

Amount  paid  office  material,  13,715  95 

Amount  paid  construction,  2,748  92 

Amount  paid  repairs  of  linea  and  instruments,  615*66 

Amount  paid  incidental  expenses,  337  90 


Total  cost,  $33,857   1 1 

The  expenditures  for  the  ensuing  quarter  will  be  considerably  in- 
creased, as  several  additional  offices  have  been  established  on  lines 
already  in  operation  and  about  three  hundred  miles  of  lino  ordered  to 
b«  constructed  within  the  last  month,  requiring  about  twenty  offices, 
nil  of  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  supply  with  instruments  and  ma- 
terial'at  a  cost  probably  exceeding  the  prices  heretofore  paid,  Mucii 
of  the  wire  heretofore  used  in  the  construction  of  telegraph  lines  was 
captured  from  the  enemy,  at  a  very  small  expense  to  this  departpent. 
Now,  the  demand  for  wire  being  so  much  greater  than  the  supply,  we 
shall  be  compelled  to  rely  to  a  considerable  extent  on  importations 
from  abiftad. 


s 

The  probable  cost  for  the  six  months  ending  December  3 let,  1864.. 
Will  be — 

For  agents  and  operators,  $18,000  00 

For  watchmen,  4,000  00 

For  oflSce  expenses,  250  00 

For  office  material,  25,000  00 

For  construction,  3l),000  00 

Fbr  repair  of  Mnes  and  instruments,  500  00 

For  incidental  expenses,  500  00 

Total  cost,  $78,250  00 

The  appropriation  of  which  is  respectfully  requested 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  II.  REAGAN, 
Postmasttr  Gereral. 


ESTIMATES  for  the  compensation  of  the  Agent  and  Clerks  of  the 
Post-Office  Department  in  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  from 
July   \st  to  December  B\st,   1864. 


Post-Office  ^DEPARTMENT, 
Richmond,  April  21,   1864. 


To  THE  President 


Sir  :  I  have*  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
sums  required  for  the  compensation  of  the  agent  and  clerks  of  the 
Post-OflSce  Department  west  of  the  Mississippifor  the  six  months  fjrom 
July  1st  to  December  31st,  1864,  under  "  An  act  authorizing  the 
appointment  of  an  agent  of  the  Post-Office  Department  and  such  clerks 
as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  on  the  postal  service  in  the  States  west 
of  the  Mississippi  river,"  approved  16th  February,  1864,  and  under 
'*  An  act  to  continue  in  force  the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  I3th 
October,  1862,  approved  13th  January,  1864: 

For  the  compensation  of  the  agent  of  the  Post-Office  Department,  at 
$4,000  per  annum,  •  $2,000  00 

For  the  compensation  often  clerks,  at  $1,500  per  annum,     7,500  00 
For  house  rent  at  Marshall,  Texas,  3,000  00 

For  contingent  and  miscellaneous  expenses,  5,000  00 

$17,500  00 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  II.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  &eneial. 


ESTIMATES  for  the  compensation  of  the  Agent  and  Clerks  of  the 
Pvst-OfTice  Department  in  the  Stutts  west  of  the  Mississ^ippi  river  front 
April  ]st  to    June  St'M,    18G},   and  for  contingent  expenses  thereof. 


rosT-OrFicE   Dfj>artment,  ) 
RicHMONn,  April  21,   18G4.       S 


To  THE   President 


Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
sums  required  for  the  compensation  of  the  agent  and  clerks  for  the 
Post-Oflice  Department  of  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi,  fi*om 
the  1st  of  April  to  the  3Hth  June,  1SG4,  and  for  the  contingent  and 
miscellaneous  expenses  of  his  office,  being  a  deficiency  for  the  same 
period  aris-ing  from  the  fact  that  no  appropriation  has  been  heretofore 
made  for  the  support  of  this  branch  of  the  service  : 

For  the  compensation  of  the  agent,  at  $4,0U()  per  annum,  under  "  An 
act  authorizing  the  appointment  of  an  agent  of  the  Post-Oflice  De- 
partment and  such  clerks  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
postal  service  in  the  States  west  bf  the  Mississippi  river,"  ap- 
proved 16th  February,  1864,  $\,()(n)  OH 

For  ten  clerks  at  $3,(100  per  annum  from  1st  April  to 
15th  May,  1864,  under  "  An  act  to  increase  the  com- 
pensation of  certain  civil  oflicers  and  employees  in  the 
Presiflent's  office,  and  in  the  Executive  and  in  t^je 
Legislative  Departments,"  approved  January  30th, 
1804,  3,708  70 

For  ten  clerks  at  !$l,oiM)  per  annum  from  May  ICth  to 
June  30th,  1864,  under  "  An  act  to  continue  in  force 
the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  13th  October, 
1862,"  approved  iSth  January,  1864,  1,785  70 

For  transportation    of  clerks,   books,    kc,  to    Marshall, 

Texas,  3,000  00 

For  house  rent  at  Marshall,  Texas,  2,000  00 

For  furniture,  5,0t)0  00 

For  fuel,  lights  and  miscellaneous,  •  5,000  0  » 

Making,  $21,494  40 


I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  II.  KEAGAN, 

Postmaster  General. 


ESTIMATES  for  the  compensation  of  Postmaster  General,  Ckiifs  of 
Buremis,  clerks,  ^'c,  of  the  Post-0  (fire  Department,  from.  July  \st 
to  December  "i\st,  1864. 


Post-Office  Department,  } 

Richmond,  April  21st,    1864.  ] 


To  THE  President  : 


Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
sums  rc(iuire(l  for  the  compensation  of  the  Postmaster  Gf'neral, 
Chiefs  of  Bureaus,  clerks,  messengers,  and  laborers  of  the  Post- 
Office  Department  for  the  six  months,  from  July  1st  to  December 
3lst,  186  I,  under  the  following  named  acts  of  Congress,  to  wit: 
"An  act  to  determine  the  salaries  of  the  Vice  President  and  the 
heads  of  departments,''  approved  February  1st,  1861  ;  *'An  act  fur- 
ther to  provide  for  the  organization  of  the  Post-Office  Department."" 
approved  March  9th,  1^61  ;  ''An  act  to  amend  an  act  further  to  pro- 
vide for  the  organization  of  th^  Post-Office  Department,  approve»l 
March  9th,  186  I ,"  approved  May  Hth,  1861,  and  "An  actniontain- 
ing  the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  October  l3th,  ISG2,''  aftproved 
13th  January,  1864  : 

For  the  compensation  of  the  Postmaster  Genoriil,  at  §6,01)0  per  an- 
num, S  3,000  01! 
For  three  Chiefs  of  P>ureaus,  at  §3,000  per  annum,  l.oOo  Od 
For  one  chief  clerk,  l$l,7oO,  per  annum,  87a  00 
For  one  disbursing  clerk,  $1,500  per  annum,  750  nn 
For  one  topographer,  §1,7  50  per  annum,  '  875  00 
For  four  principal  clerks,  §1,500  per  annum,  '  3,000  00 
For  thirty-eight  clerks,  §l,5ii0  per  annum,.  28,500  on* 
For  two  messengers,  $750  per  annum,  75  '  0(,i 
For  one  messenger,  §600  per  annum,  300  Od 
For  one  watchman,  $750  per  annum,  375  (Ht 
For  compensation- of  four  laborers,  at  $2   25  per  day,  414  0" 

Total,  ^  S-<3,339  o  ■ 

There  will  also  bf  required    an  appropriation  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars ($5,000,)  for  the  contingent  fund  of  this  Department. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  st-rvant, 

JOHN  H.  REAGAN, 

Pcslmasttr  General. 


» 


F.STIMATJJS  of  Appropriations  rujuired  for  the  service  (f  the  Post- 
OJfiCi   Drpnrtmfmt,  tn  the  the  year  nxdivg  June  tiOth,    1865, 

Post-Okkice  Dkpaktment,  ) 

Rkhiw/ul,    In.,  May,   186  1.  ] 

To  THE  PrKSIOENT  : 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
?um8  require<I  for  the  service  of  the  I'ost-Office  l)epartiucnt,  to  be 
appropiiated  out  of  any  rnoucys  in  the  Treasury,  arising  nut  of  the 
jeveiiuea  of  the  Department,  derived  from  pobtages,  sales  of  postage 
s.buips,  and  emoluments  I'lom  boi  rents  tor  the  several  periods  of 
time  therein  set  forth,  vi/  ; 

1862. 

'  For  ihe  year  ended -June  ;jth,  1862,  estimate.?  were  submitted, 
S'27.3.35o  23,  and  an  appropriation  of  the  above  sum  asked  for, 
5th  March,  1862,  3l8t  December,  1862,  ond  on  the  12th  February. 
1863,  in  a  report  to  Congress  of  that  date,  anil  also  in  a  leport  to 
Congress,  dated  7th  December,  1 803,  page  6.  The  appropriation  has 
not  beea  made,  and  1  earnestly  re(|uest  that  it  may  receive  early  at- 
tention and  thereby  enable  the  Treasurer  to  close  the  accounts  of 
the  Department  for  tliat  year. 

1863. 

Appro priations  required  f'>r  the  period  between  the  1st  of  July,  1862, 

and  June  3llth,  1863,  viz,  : 

For  transportation  of  the  mails,  S', 689. 349  22 

For  compensation  of  postiniisters,  862,873  57 

For  compensation  of  clerks  in  post-offices.  -91,352  56 

For  ship,  steamboat,  anil   w;iy   letters,  77  i    41 

•  For  advertising,                       '  12  915  62 

For  mail  bags,  256  35 

For  oifice  furniture,  l,46i)  01' 

For  blanks  imd  printing,  14,047  76 

For  wrapping  paper,  9,338   18 

For  mail-locks,  keys  and  stamps,  756  75 

For  mail  depredations  and  special  agent.-*,  21,068  31 

V^or  miscellaneous  payments,  '                     20,539   69 

For  postage  stamps,        .  12,572  78 

$2,737,302  30 
In  addition  to  the  above  enumerated  items,  I  respect- 
fully request  that  the  surplus  revenues  of  the  de- 
partment for  th^  above  period  may  be  appropriated 
in  bulk  for  the  future  use  of  the  Deparlmcnt.   The  * 

amount  is  600,550  71 


Total,  $3,337,853  01 


Estimates  werS  submitted  for  the  expenditures  of  the  above  period, 
and  appropriations  asked  for  11th  March,  1862,  19th  July,  IS6S, 
25th  September,  1862,  31st  December,  1862,  12th  February,  1863, 
and  December  7th,  1863,  hut  the  sums  asked  for  have  not  been  ap- 
propriated. 

1865. 

F6#the  period  from  the  1st  July,  1864,  to  JuTie  30th,  1865,  viz  : 
For  transportation  of  the  mails,  $2,157,846  43 

For  compensation  of  postmasters,                 *  862,873  57 

For  compensation  of  clerks  in  post-offices,  116,352  66 

For  ship,  steamboat  and  way  letters,  771   41 

For  advertising,  12,915  G2 

For  mail-bags,  7,309  85 

For  office  furniture,  1,460  00 

For  blanks  and  printing,  74,047  76 

For  wrapping  paper,                                                '  29,338   18 

For  mail-locks,  keys,  and  stuujpj?,  756  75 

For  mail  depredations  and  special  agents,  26,068  31 

For  miscellaneous  payments.  20,539  69 

For  postage  stamps,  27^72  78 

Total,  $3,337,853  Oj 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOEIN  H.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  General. 


APPENDIX  A. 


I'oST-OrFICK   DEfARTMENT,    #) 

Richmond,  1864.  \    ^- 

SiR .  I  send  in  charge  of  the  books,  stationery,  stamps,  instruc- 
tions, &c.,  for  your  department,  W,  L.  Thomas,  W.  F.  Smith  and  W. 
P.  Hud^iiis,  clerk.-5  of  this  Department,  for  dut^'  with  you. 

Mr,  Thomas  has  knowled;^e  of  most  of  the  branches  of  business  in 
the  Finance  liurcau,  but  more  especially  of  the  stamps,  dead  letters 
and  pay  branches.  He  has,  also,  some  kno\Yledge  of  the  (quarterly 
return  branch. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  in  service  of  the  Appointment  Bureau  from 
soon  after  the  organization  of  this  Department,  and  is  very  well 
acquainted  with  the  busines?'  relating  to  appointments,  removals, 
instructions  to  postmasters,  supplying  them  with  blanks,  kc. 

Mr,  Iludgins  has  been  in  service  in  the  Inspection  Office  for  some 
time  past,  and  understands  the  preparation  of  cases  for  settlement  of 
the  accounts  of  contract  )rs  by  the  Auditor. 

These  gentlemen  will  be  useful  to  you  from  their  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  busines.=?  of  the  Department.  It  \v;is  my  desire  to  send 
you,  also,  a  clerk  familiar  with  the  duties  of  the  Contract  Bureau, 
but  we  have  no  one  in  that  bureau  whose  situation  enables  him  to 
go.  But  is  it  hoped  the  books,  circulars,  blanks  and  "  instructions" 
relating  to  the  business  of  that  bureau  are  so  complete  as  to  enable 
you  to  conduce  its  business  without  difficulty. 

I  have  furnished  each  of  the  gentlemen  above  named  with  an  ap- 
pointment as  special  agent  of  this  Department  to  facilitate  them  on 
their  trip,  these  commissions  are  to  be  delivered  to  you  on  their  arri- 
val at  Marshall.  I  have  also  furnished  each  of  them  with  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  trip.  And  each 
of  them  is  directed  to  keep  an  account  of  his  necessary  expenses, 
preserving  vouchers  in  all  cases  in  which  it  is  practicable  to  obtain 
them,  and  to  settle  his  account  of  the  expenses  of  the  trip  with  you, 
and  pay  over  any  unexpended  balance  which  you  can  cover  into  the 
Treasury  to  the  credit  of  the  Department. 

You  will  have  to  employ  such  additional  clerical  assistance  as  you 
may  find  necessary,  4nd  report  such  appointments  as  you  may  make 
for  approval. 

The  law,  under  which  your  appointment  is  made,  allows  the  same 
rate  of  compensation  to  your  clerks  which  is  allowed  to  the  clerks  of 
the  Department  in  Richmond,  afi(^  having  been  pj^od  subsequent  to 
the  date  of  the  law  increasing,  &c.,  entitles  them  to  the  same  increase 
of  pay. 


tl 

The  late  period  of  tbe  session  of  Congress  at  which  the  law  estab- 
lishing a  branch  of  the  Department  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  passed, 
and  an  accidental  oversight  prevented  the  making  by  Congress  of  ne- 
cessary appropriation  for  carrying  it  on.  But  you  are  directed  to  go 
on  with  the  business  and  draw  on  the  Assistant  Treasurer  for  the 
necessary  amounts  under  the  proper  heads  of  expenditures,  and  an 
estimate  for  the  (deficiency  will  be  submitted  for  appropriation  at  the 
approaching  session  of  Congress.  For  the  proper  heads  of  expendi- 
tures see  fifth  United  States  Statutes  at  Large,  page  eighty,  section 
two,  and  the  same  in  Brightley's  Digest  Laws  .United  States,  page 
seven  hundred  and  sixty-two,  section  twenty-five. 

And,  under  the  same  heads,  you  arc  requested  as  soon  as  you  shall 
have  rented  the  necessary  buiKling,  and  ascertained  its  cost,  and 
ascertained  the  amount  of  clerical  force  you  will  need,  obtain  the 
necessary  furniture,  and  ascertained  the  probable  cost  of  stationery, 
&c.,  with  which  you  will  have  to-supply  yourself,  then,  if  practicable, 
to  prepare  and  send  me  an  estimate  of  expenditures  for  your  office 
for  the  balance  of  this  fiscal  year,  ending  June  3Uth,  18G4,  and,  also, 
for  the  year  ending  June  3()th,  1865.-  There  is  a  balance  to  the  credit 
of  this  Department  of  about  seventy  thousand  dollars  in  the  hands  of 
the  Assistant  Treasurer,  at  Shreveport.  I  send  herewith  the  necessary 
authority  for  the  transfer  of  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  of  this 
amount  to  the  office  of  the  Assistant  Treasurer,  at  Marshall.  Thi^ 
sum  will  be  subject  to  your  warrants.  There  are  also  some  sixty  or 
seventy  thousand  dollars  to  the  credit  of  this  Department  in  the  hands 
of  the  Assistant  Treasurer,  at  Galvestcn,  (now  at  Houston,)  which 
will  be  subject  to  your  warrants.  As.  also,  a. small  sum  in  the  hands 
of  the  Assistant  Treasurer,  at  Little  Rock,  (now,  I  believe,  at  Wash- 
ington.) Arkansas,  which  will  be  subject  to  your  warrants. 

Under  the  authority  of  "  An  act  to  provide  for  the  better  organiza- 
tion of  the  Treasury  and  for  the  collection,  safe  keeping,  transfer  and 
disbursement  of  the  public  revenue,"  approved  August  6th,  1864, 
United  States  Stat'fttes  at  Large,  volume  nine,  page  fifty  nine,  (same 
in  Brightley's  Digest,  page  eight  hundred  and  eighty-four,)  you  have 
authority  to  direct  postmasters  to  deposit  the  funds  of  the  several 
officers  in  any  branch  of  the  Treasury,  authorized  to  disburse  public 
funds,  which  you  may  find  necessary  or  convenient  to  meet  warrants 
drawn  by  you  in  payment  of  the  liabilities  of  the  Department, 

You  can  ascertain  from  the  office  of  the  agent  of  the  Treasury 
Department,  at  Marshall,  the  names  of  these  branches  of  the  Treasury 
and  where  situated. 

The  following  are  draft  offices,  west  of  the  Mississippi : 

In  Arkansas. — Falcon,  Columbia  county;  Helena,  Philips  county; 
,  Magnolia,  Columbia  county  ;  Nashville,  Hempstead  county  ;  Darcy, 
White  county 

Jymisiana. — Basstrop,  Morehouse  parish ;  Collinsburg,  Bossier 
parish;   Monroe,  Washita  parish;   Minden,  Claiborne  parish. 

Texas. — Paris,  Lamar  county. 

See  chapter  L,  section  IL,  of  the  Laws,  and  chapter  XXVL,  of  the 
Regulations  in  the  volume  of  Post-Offices  and  Laws  and  Regulations 


It 

of  the  Department  for  the  authority-  for  establishing,  and  manner  of 
conducting,  the  business  of  draft,  deposit  and  collection  oflBces.  You 
have  authority,  from  time  to  time,  to  change  Post-Offices  from  the 
one  to  the  other  of  these  classes,  when  required  by  convenience  or 
necessity. 

On  account  of  the  increased  revenues  arising  from  postages,  which 
prevents  the  Department,  in  many  cases,  from  absorbing  them  by  the 
use  of  collection  orders,  it  has  been  found  necessary,  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, to  increase  very  largely  the  number  of  draft  and  deposit 
offices.  Yon  will  probably  find  a  corresponding  increase  necessary 
in  the  west.  , 

The  following  are  the  only  deposit  offices  heretofore  established  by 
this  Depnrtnient  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  postmasters  at  Galves- 
ton and  Houston,  Texas,  deposit  with  the  depositary  at  Galveston, 
(now  at  Houston ;)  and  the  postmaster  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  de- 
posits with  the  depositary  at  Little  Rock. 

You  will  observe  that  your  authority  is  to  "employ"  instead  of 
"  appoint  "  postmasters,  clerks,  &c.  The  limitation- placed  on  the 
appointing  power  in  Article  II.,  section  11,  clause  II.,  of  the  C  )n3ti- 
tution,  reduces  us  to  the  necessity,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  oi' 
communications,  of  adopting  this  ag  the  only  means  left  us  of  carry- 
ing on  the  service  there. 

You  will  also  observe  that  the  law  under  which  you  are  appointed 
makes  you  agent  of  the  Department  for  the  "  States  "  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river.  We  must  construe  the  word  States  to  mean  territory — 
the  Stiite  of  Louisiana  being  divided  by  that  river. 

In.  the  law  prescribing  your  duties,  there  was  an  omission,  result- 
ing doubtless  from  an  oversight  in  not  asking  for  it,  to  give  you  the 
privilege  of  franking  your  official  correspondence.  This  will  render 
it  necessary  for  you  to  pay  the  postage  on  your  correspondence,  until 
Congress  can  be  aske<l  for  legislation  on  the  subject. 

I  send  you  a  small  supply  of  stationery,  blanks,  wrapping  paper, 
«S:c.,  to  meet  your  first  necessities.  The  difficulties  and  dangers  of 
transportation  render  it  necessary  for  you  to  supply  your  office  with 
such  things  in  future  from  the  west  of  the  Mississippi,  if  practicable. 
It  may  be  well  for  you  at  once  to  advertise  for  proposals  for  furnish- 
ing papers  of  all  the  kinds  you  will  need,  and  for  printing  blanks  and 
circulars,  furnishing  twine,  &c. 

The  special  agents  of  the  Department  west  of  the  Mississippi  are  : 
Morris  R.  Reagan,  Austin,  Texas  ;  and  James  E.  Talbot,  Washing- 
ton, Arkansas  ;  and  Wm  'i'.  Avery,  who  will  be,  the  most  of  his  time, 
west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  route  agents  west  of  the  Mississippi 
are  :  p].  R.  Ten  ill  and  Thomas  White,  on  the  railroad  from  Houston 
to  Milican,  Texas  ;  and  W.  N.  Bryant,  on  the  railroad  f:om  Harris- 
burg  to  Alleyton,  Texas.  You  will  instruct  special  agents  Reagan 
and  Talbot,  and  the  above  named  route  agents,  to  make  their  reports 
to  you,  as  they  have  heretofore  done  to  this  Department ;  and  direct 
special  agent  Avery  to  report  to  you  when  on  duty  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river.     You  may  also  find  it  advantageous  to  direct  the  special 

lii  at  • 


IS 

agent  to  report  to  you  in  person  at  Marshall,  for  consultation  on  the 
condition  and  necessities  of  the  service. 

I  send  you  one  thousand  copies  of  my  circular  of  March  8th,  giv- 
ing directions  to  postmasters  as  to  their  duties  in  view  of  the  provi- 
sions of  the  act  to  reduce  the  currency  and  authorize  a  new  issue  of 
notes  and  bonds,  approved  February  17,  1864.  I  have  caused  a  copy 
to  be  enveloped  and  addressed  to  each  postmaster  and  each  special 
and  route  agent  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  franked,  so  that  they 
may  be  mailed  to  their  destination  without  delay.  The  remainder  of 
them  will  answer  your  future  necessities.  This  circular  will  indicate 
the  duties  which  will  devolve  on  them  and  yourself  in  retiring  the  old 
issue  of  treagiiry  notes  from  circulation  under  that  law.  The  special 
depositaries  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  under  that 
law,  will  not  be  paying  depositaries,  upon  whom  you  can  draw  war- 
rants in  payment  of  the  liabilities  of  the  Department,  and  hence  no 
other  funds  should  be  deposited  with  them  than  such  as  you  are  re- 
quired to  withdraw  from  circulation.  The  amounts  so  withdrawn  will 
be  replaced,  as  soon  as  practicable,  by  funds  of  the  new  issue,  dollar 
for  dollar. 

I  have  caused  Messrs.  Thomas,  Smith  and  Hudgins  to  be  paid  their 
salary,  before  leaving  here,  for  the  whole  of  the  present  month,  April, 
BO  that  their  compensation  for  services  with  you  will  run  from  the 
first  of  May,  proximo 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  H.  RFAGAN, 

Postmaster  General. 
Dr.  James  H.  Starr, 

Agent  of  Post-Office  Bepartmint,  Marshall,  Texas. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  foregoing,  I  find,  on  enquiry  of  the  Seore- 
taryDf  the  Treasury,  that  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  send  authority  for 
the  transfer  of  the  funds  from  the  Assistant  Treasurer  at  Shreveport  to 
tho  one  at  Marshall,  as  you  can  have  such  transfers  made  on  your  own 
application  to  Judge  Grav,  the  agent  of  the  Treasury. 

J.  H.  R. 


t1 

APPENDIX      B 


Post  Office  Df.PAUT.MKNT,  >    ' 
RiciiMOxND,  March  13,   18G4.      J 

Sir  :  I  send  you  herewith  the  following  named  laws,  regulations, 
instructions,  books,  blanks,  stamps,  maps,  memoranda,  ^c. : 

I.  One  volume  ^•ontaitiing  the  acts  and  joint  resolutions  of  the 
Provisional  Congress,  with  separate  manuscript  index  to  the  laws 
which  relate  to  the  postal  service 

II.  Three  pamphlets,  containing  the  acts  and  joint  resolutions  of 
the  first,  second  and  third  sessions  of  the  first  Congress  under  the 
Permanent  Government. 

III.  Manuscript  copies  of  the  following  nam:d  acts  passed  at  the 
fourth  session,  (not  yet  published  in  pamphlet.)  viz:  "An  act  to 
authorize  the  appointment  of  an  agent  of  the  Post-OflBce  Department 
for  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,"  approved  February  !'♦. 
lSfi4  ;  "  An  act  to  orgiinize  two  bureaus  in  connection  with  the 
agency  of  the  'i  reasury  for  the  irans-Missisi^ippi  dep:irtnicnt,  oue  of 
which  is  to  be  known  as  the  bureau  of  the  auilitor,  and  the  other  as 
the  bureau  of  the  comptroller  for  the  trans-Mississippi  department," 
approved  February  17.  186-1  ;  '•  An  act  to  authorize  the  increase  of 
compensation  to  route  and  special  agents  of  the  Post-Olfice  Depart- 
ment," approved  February  17,  IHG4;  "An  act  to  continue  in  force 
the  provisions  of  an  act  therein  named,"  approved  January  13th, 
18G4,  relating  to  the  salaries  of  clerks;  and  "  An  act  to  increase  tho 
compensation  of  certain  civil  officers  and  employees  of  the  Presi- 
dent's office,  and  in  the  executive  and  legislative  ilepartments  at 
Richmoml,  for  a  limited  period."  approve<l  January  30th,   !8()4. 

IV.  A  paper,  maikcd  **  A,"  containing  manuscript  copy  of  the 
order  of  the  Po«tmarter  Ceneral  investing  the  agent  of  the  Depart- 
ment for  tho  portion  of  the  Confederacy  west  of  the  Mississippi  with 
the  powers  contemplated  by  tho  law  for  his  appointment,  kc.  ;  a 
manuscript  copy  of  the  order  locating  the  "Post-Olfice  agency  for  the 
West  at  Marshall,  Te.xa«  ;  and  manuscript  copies  of  three  orders  re- 
lating to  the  rate  of  compcnsiition  of  route  agents. 

\ .  I'amphlet  copies  of  the  reports  of  the  I'ostraaster  General  of 
November  27th,  1861,  February  28th,  1862,  and  December  7th, 
18G3,     I  am  unable  to  send  the  others  f^r  want  of  pamphlet  copies. 

VI.  Your  special  attention  is  called  to  the  proclamation  of  the 
Postmaster  General  taking  charge  of  the  postal  service,  found  on 
pages  3i!-36  of  his  report  of  November  27th,  1861,  which  you  may 
have  occasion  to  refer  to  in  the  settlement  of  accounts.     And  also  to 


15 

his  proclamation  in  relation  to  the  collection  of  balances  in  the  ^ands 
of  postmasters,  and  the  payment  of  sums  due  contractors  and  others 
at  the  time  the  Confederate  States  took  charge  of  the  postal  service,' 
on  pages  7  and  8  of  the  same  report.  Two  copies  of  this  report  are 
sent. 

VII.  One  bound  "record  book"  for  official  letters,  six  quires, 
demi  size,  Russia  bands  and  ends. 

VIII.  One  bound  '•  record  book  "  for  official  orders,  (six  quires, 
demi  size,  Russia  bands  and  ends.)  to  be  made  pursuant  to  section  15, 
page  6,  of  the  postal  laws  in  the  volume  containing  the  list  of  post- 
offices  and  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  Post-Office  Department. 

.  IX.  Second  volume  of  Mayo's  **  Fiscal  Guide,"  in  which  see  spe- 
cially chapter  xi.,  page  IGl. 

X.  Your  attention  is  called  to  the  preliminary  cliapter,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  volume,  containing  the  list  of  post-officcd  and  the  laws 
and  regulations,  for  a  brief  view  of  the  organization  of  the  Post- 
Office  Department,  three  copies  of  which  are  herewith  sent. 

XI.  Post-route  maps  of  the  States  of  Texas,  Louisiana  and 
Arkansas, 


fc>  Contract  Bureau. 

XII.  One  "  route  book,"  (six  quires,  demi  size,  Russia  bands  and 
ends,)  embracing  a  description  of  all  the  routes  in  Texas,  and  the 
names  and  residences  of  the  contractors,  and  a  synopsis  of  the  latest 
correspondence  in  relation  to  their  condition,  with  an  alphabetical 
index  to  the  names  and  addresses  of  the  contractors.  And  a  book  of 
a  similar  character  for  the  States  of  Louisiana  and  Arkansas. 

XIII.  A  bound  volume,  containing  a  description  of  all  the  post 
routes  in  the  States  of  Texas,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama and  Tennessee,  with  Extracts  from  the  laws,  ttc,  relating  thereto, 
with  alternate  fly-leaves  for  such  notes  as  you  may  find  it  necessary 
to  make  in  relation  to  the  routes.  And  a  pamphlet  containing  a  like 
list  of  post-routes  for  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia  and  Florida. 

XIV.  Package,  marked  "  B,"  containing  copies  of  all  the  circular 
letters,  forty-two  in  number,  and  blank  forms  of  all  contracts  used  in 
the  contract  bureau,  bound  together,  with  a  synoptical  index. 

XV.  Package,  marked  "  C,"  containing  twenty  copies  of  each  cir- 
cular letter  of  this  bureau  for  immediate  use,  subject  to  the  necessary 
changes. 

XVI.  Package,  marked  *'  D,"  containing  three  hundred  copies  of 
blank  contracts  for  carrying  the  mails,  witii  one  hundred  and  fifty 
circulars  of  instruction  to  nostmasters  as  to  the  mode  of  e.xecuting 
contratts  ;  ten  copies  of  contracts  for  carrying  mails  on  railroads, 
and  the  corresponding  number  of  circulars  of  instruction  as  to  their 
execution ;  twenty  copies  of  contracts  for  carrying  the  mail  on  steam- 
boats, with  the  corresponding  number  of  circulars  of  instruction  as 
to  their  execution. 


16 

XVII.  See  1-7  -'"  M '^  he  Laws,  anUpages  III,  116  ofthe  Regu- 
lations, in  th  -offices  ani  Laws  and  Regulations,  as 
mentioned  in  }so.  10,  as  to  contracts,  K,c.,Sor  mail  service,  and  the 
act  of  the  Confederate  Congress  of  May  9.  1861,  as  to  the  railroad 
contracts. 

ApPOJNTMF.yT  BlRKAU. 

XVin.  One  •'  appointment  book,"  coniaiuini;  the  names  of  all  the 
post-offices  in  each  of  the  States  of  Texas,  Arkansas  and  Louisiana, 
the  county  in  which  each  is  situated,  and  following  in  the  same  line 
with  the  name  of  each  office  and  county,  is  the  names  of  all  the  post- 
masters who  have  filled  any  such  office  under  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernmcnt,  the  last  name  in  the  line  being  the  present  incumbent.  The 
last  appointees  to  office,  checked  thus  :  (V)  in  red  ink,  have  not  given 
bond  ,  and  it  will  be  necessary  for  you  tu  employ  them,  or  other  persons, 
under  theauthority  couftrred  on  you,  until  they  can  be  commissioned 
by  the  Postmaster  General.  You  will  note,  on  the  same  lino,  in  this 
book,  the  date  of  your  letter  employing  any  postmaster,  the  date  of 
his  bond,  when  returned  to,  and  approved  by  you.  and  the  date  of 
your  letter  authorizing  hitn  to  enter  on  the  duties  of  postmaster, 
which  you  arc  to  send  him  after  approving  his  bond;  and  on  the  re- 
ceipt of  which,  and  not  before,  he  is  to  be  authorized  to  take  charge 
of  the  office. 

XIX.  In  relation  to  the  appointment  of  postmasters,  you  are  re- 
ferred to  chapter  I,  pages  1,  7,  of  the  Laws,  and  chapter  II,  pages  02 
and  63,  of  the  Regulations,  in  the  volume  containing  the  list  of  post- 
offices  and  the  Laws  ar.d  Regulations  of  tlie  Post-Office  Department,  in 
connection  with  the  law  authorizing  you  to  employ  persons,  for  the 
time  being,  for  these  duties. 

XX  Package  marked  *'  E,"  contains  copies  of  all  the  circular 
letters,  twenty-one  in  number,  marked  from  1  to  21,  and  blanks, 
ten  in  number,  marked  from  A  to  K,  in  use  by  the  Appointment 
Bureau,  and  a  synoptical  index  to  them. 

XXI.   500  copies  of  bonds  marked  F,  on  package. 

500  letters  of  employment  marked  Cr,  on  jJ^ckago. 
1,000  oaths  of  postmasters  and  route   ai^ents,  marked  H,  on 
package. 
500  copies  of  instructions    to    postraasterj,  marked  I,    on 

package, 
5(KI  copies   of  instructions  to   postmasters,  in   reference  to 
letter  postage.  Circular  No.  20,  marked  K,  on  package. 
500  copies   of  instructions   to   postmasters   in    reference   to 
newspaper  postage.  Circular    No.   21,   marked   L,   on 
pnckage. 
5  reams  of  common  post  bills,  marked  M,  on  package. 
5  reams  mails  received,  marked  N,  on  package. 
3  reams  mails  sent,  marked  0,  on  package. 
2  reams  accounts  current,  marked  P,  on  package. 
1  ream  newspaper  blanks  to  regulate  subscribers,  marked 
Q,  on  package. 


I 

Half  ream  newspaper  blanks,  irregular  and  transient,  pre- 
paid matter,  marked  R,  on  package. 
5  reams  wrapping  paper. 
10  balls  of  twine.     ♦ 

XXII.  One  two  quire  book,   half  bound  in  clolh,  for  account  of 
blanks,   wrapping    paper,   twine,   Sic,   sent    out   from    Appointment 
Bureau. 

XXIII.  Two  Fairbanks!'  letter  balances. 

XXIV.  One  United  States  Official  Register,  for  1 8o9,  containing 
the  names  of  all  postmasters  in  office  at  the  date  of  its  issue,  with  the 
annual  compensation  and  net  proceeds  of  their  several  offices.  Also. 
a  list  of  mail  contractors  up  tfl  the  same  date,  the  annual  pay  of  con- 
tractors, ad<litional  amounts  allowed  to  them,  and  total  annual  com- 
pensation List  of  all  clerks  in  post-offices  up  to  the  same  date,  and 
their  annual  compensation.  List  of  the  special  agents,-  and  also  the 
route  agents,  in  office  at  the  same  date,  and  their  annual  compensa- 
tion. List  of  all  the  offices  supplied  by  special  service,  with  the 
amounts  allowed  for  such  service,  being  the  net  proceeds  of  3ai<J  office. 

Finance  Bureau. 

XXV.  One  register  for  "  dead  letters,"  folio  post,  eight  quires, 
half  bound  in  cloth. 

XXVI.  One  "  stamp  ledger,"  eight  quires,  folio  post,  half  bound 
in  cloth. 

XXVII.  One  '•  register  of  postage  stamps  sent,"  four  quires,  folio 
post,  half  bound  in  cloth. 

XX  VIII.  One  "register  of  postage  stamps  returned,"  half  quire, 
folio  post. 

XXIX.  One'"  register  of  quarterly  returns  ol  postmasters,"  four 
quires,  folio  post,  half  bound  in  cloth. 

XXX.  One  book  for  accounts  of  "  warrants  and  drafts,"  three 
quires,  folio,  post,  half  bound  in  cloth. 

XXXI.  One  book  containing  five  hundred  warrants,  bound  in 
paper. 

XXXII.  One  book  containing  eight  hundred  drafts,  bound  in 
paper. 

XXXIII.  i*ackage  marked  "  T,"  containing  copies  of  all  the  cir- 
cular letters,  nine  in  number,  marked  from  1  to  9,  and  blanks,  nine  in 
number,  marked  from"  A  to  J,  in  use  by  the  Finance  "Bureau,  with  a 
synoptical  index  to  them. 

XXXIV.  1,00(1  copies  of  instructions  to  postmasters,  marked  on 

package,  A. 
1,000  copies  of  circular  No.    1,  to  postmasters,  marked 
on  package,  B. 

SI  00  copies  of  circular  No.  2,  to  postmaster,  marked 
on  package,  C. 
2o\i  copies  of  circular  No.  3,  to  postmasters,  marked 
I  on  package,  D. 

f      200  copies  of  circular  No.  1,  to  postmasters,  marked 
•^  on  package,  E.  , 


18 

l/»(i(l  copies  of  circuUr  No.  o,  to  posmasters,  iniirkedon 

package,  F. 
I, (Mid  copie?  of  circular  No.  6,  to  postmasters, marke'l  oa 
package,  G. 
5'H)  copies  of  circular  No.  7,  to  postmasters,  marked  on 

package,  11. 
."I'll  copie{5  of  circular  No.  S,  to  postmasters,  marked  on 
package,  1. 
XXXV     l,2Ji,(''Mi  |(t  cent  postage  etarapM, 
4(i(i.(HMi  2it  cent  po.-^tuge  .stamps. 
2o*l.tiii0     5  cent  postage  stamps. 
Packed  in  three  tin  cases.* 

Ins^kction   (>Kni.i:. 

XXXVI.  Dnc  rtgister,  ilnce  and  t)nc-half  quires,  folio  post,  half 
bound  in  cloth,  showing  the  termini  of  the  several  routes  in  Texas, 
Louisiana  and  Arkatis-is,  arranged  by  States  in  alphabetical  order; 
^ith  the  numbers  of  the  routes,  and  ruled  into  spaces,  and  headed  for 
each  month  from  Jul}',  1862,  to  July,  1865.  Upon  this  book  are  en- 
tered the  registers  of  arrivals  and  departures  of  the  mails  on  each 
route  as  far  as  they  have  been  received  at  the  Department,  when  the 
registers  are  what  is  known  as  "clear  registers,"  that  is,  show  no 
failures,  and  that  service  was  performed  in  contract  time.  Entries 
are  also  made  showing  the  date  up  to  which  the  routes  have  been 
reported  to  the  Auditor  for  settlement,  and,  in  settlements  which  have 
Dot  followed  in  the  rcgulur  order,  because  the  evidence  of  service  was 
not  received,  the  period  for  which  they  have  been  reported  is  also 
entered. 

XXXVII.  Package  marked  K,  contains  copies  of  all  the  circular 
letters,  seventeen  in  number,  marked  from  one  to  seventeen,  in  use 
by  the  Inspection  Office,  with  a  synoptical  index  to  them. 

XXXVIII.  1(10  sheets  for  reports  of  fines  and  deductions. 
1,0(10  circulars,  No.  7. 

1,000  circulars,  No.  8. 

XXXIX.  Copies  of  all  registers  upon  which  failures  of  the  mail 
are  shown,  or  service  is  not  performed  in  contract  time,  upon  routes 
not  reported  to  the  Auditor  for  settlement,  and  which  are 
known  as  *'  suspended  registers.  "  Also,  all  certificates  of  ser- 
TJce  from  postmasters,  upon  route.''  not  reported,  which  have  been 
received  at  the  Department ;  and  letters  from  contractors  giving 
excuses  for  failures,  kc.  These  routes  have  not  been  reported,  be- 
cause the  evidence  of  service  upon  them  was  not  complete.  These 
papers  are  to  enable  the  agent  to  settle  the  accounts  of  contractorg 
when  the  necessary  additional  evidence  is  received. 

XL,  Rules  for  determining  the  amount  of  fines  and  deductions  to 
be  charged  against  contractors  for  failures  to  perform  service,  accord- 
ing as  there  is  a  trip  lost,  a  half  trip,  a  failure  to  connect,  or  any 
other  failure  in  the  prompt  performance  of  tho  service.  Also,  rules 
for  making  pro  rata  calculations,  and  an  example   showing  the  decis- 


19 

ion  of  the  Inspection  Office  upon  an  imaginary  case  made  up  to  show 
all  the  usual  kinds  of  failures  that  are  presented  in  practice, 
marked  L, 

Miscellaneous. 

XLl. — .5  reams  letter  paper. 
2  reams  cap  paper, 
25  M.   letter-size  envelopes. 
•     2  M,  commercial  envelopes. 

oOU  official  envelopes.  ' 

1,000  large  envelopes  for  stamps. 

1    eight-quire  blank  blotter,  bound. 

XLII.  Paper  marked  M,  containing  a  list  of  :i11  the  "draft  offices'' 
in  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  * 

XLIII.  Paper  marked  N,  being  a  table  showing  the  sizes,  weight 
and  cost  of  paper  per  pound  used  by  the  Post-OHice. Department  (as  per 
.sample)  purchascil  prior  to  the  war  ;•  ani  the  cost  of  blanks  per  I,000 
ems  of  composition  and  printirig  per  ream  prior  to  the  Avar. 

XLIV.  Paper  marked  0,  being  descriptive  list  and  drawing  of  the 
various  sizes  and  qualities  of  blank  books  ami  prices  prior  to  the 
war.  These,  too,  are  sent  to  serve  as  a  guide  to  you  in  making  pur- 
chases of  such  articles  for  the  use  of  the  Department. 

XLV.*  Package,  marked  P,  comprising  one  hundred  and  thirty-live 
dead  letters,  which  contain  an  aggregate  sura  of  two  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  dollars  and  forty-five  cents,  and  to  be  sent 
out  by  you,  with  the  necessary  circulars  to  the  writers  thereof. 

XLVI. — One  package  marked  Q,  comprising  seventy-five  minor 
dead  letters,  containg  drafts,  bills  of  exchange,  and  other  papers  of 
value,  to  be  sent  out  by  you  with  the  neseseary  circulars  for  delivery 
to  the  writers  thereof.  ^ 

XLVII. — Five  sheets  of  "receipt  warrants"  to  enable  you  to  cover 
into  the  Treasury  the  amounts  deposited  in  th6  several  branches  of 
the  Treasury,  under  the  authority  of  the  fifth  section  of  **An  act 
to  change  the  organization  of  the  Post-Office  Department,  and  provide 
more  eflFectually  for  the  settlement  of  the  accounts  thereof,"  ap- 
proved July  2d,  1836.  Vol.  5,  United  States  Statutes  at  Large, 
page  80,  same  Brightley's  Digest,  page  763,  section  28,  enclosed  in 
book  described  in  No.  28  of  this  memorandum. 

XLVIII. — 1  gross  steel  pens. 
1  dozen  pen  holders. 

1  dozen  black  lead  pencils. 
10  pounds  gum  arable. 

2  packages  blotting  pads. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  H.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  General.     • 
Dr.  James  H.   Starr, 

Agent  of  Post-Office  Department ^ 

Marshall,    Texas. 


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